Music Monday: Styx/Paradise Theatre (Act One)

After the drama that took place and the disagreements that boiled over following the previous album Cornerstone, Styx released their 10th studio album in 1981. And I must say, it is one of my top five favorite albums of all time. I am speaking of course about Paradise Theatre.

Paradise Theatre is a concept album which details a fictional account of Chicago's Paradise Theatre (photo on the left) from its grand opening in 1928 (front cover of the album) to its closing and eventual abandonment and demolition in 1958 (back cover). Dennis DeYoung used it as a metaphor for America's changing times from the late 1970's into the 1980's. The band members are depicted as "players", and each side of the album is referred to as "Act One" and "Act Two".

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1) A.D. 1928/Rockin' the Paradise - These two separate tracks are normally played together since the first segueways into the next. The first uses a theme that is used throughout the album, with the lyrics describing opening night:

Tonight's the night we'll make history, as sure as dogs can fly

And I'll take any risk to tie back the hands of time

And stay with you here tonight

So take your seats and don't be late, we need your spirits high

To turn on these theatre lights and brighten the darkest skies

Here at the Paradise....

From Dennis's website he explains that the lyrics for "Rockin' the Paradise" describe his feelings about the worst recession America had faced since the great depression, and the general malaise in the country:

So whatcha doin' tonight?

Have you heard that the world's gone crazy?

Young Americans listen when I say there's people puttin' us down

I know they're sayin' that we've gone lazy

To tell you the truth we've all seen better days

Don't need no fast buck lame duck profits for fun

Quick trick plans, take the money and run

We need long term, slow burn, getting it done

And some straight talking, hard working son of a gun.

Whatcha doin' tonight, I got faith in our generation

Let's stick together and futurize our attitudes

I ain't lookin' to fight, but I know with determination

We can challenge the schemers who cheat all the rules

Come on take pride, be wise, spottin' the fools

No more big shots, crackpots bending the rules

A fair shot here for me and for you

Knowing that we can't lose

And we'll be rockin' in Paradise

Rockin' the Paradise tonight

Rockin' in Paradise

Rockin' the Paradise tonight

Tonight, tonight...

(Go Sparky go!)

Come on take pride, be wise, spottin' the fools

No more big shots, crackpots bending the rules

A fair shot here for me and for you

Knowing that we can't lose

And we'll be rockin' in Paradise

Rockin' the Paradise tonight

This was the fourth single released from the album and reached #8 on the Top Rock Track Chart (whatever that is). It was also the tenth video played by MTV on it debut day in 1981 (you know, back when the "M" stood for music).

Side note: Some people are confused over the "dogs can fly" and "go Sparky go" lyrics. On the back side of the album under a marquee is a poster with a picture of a dog that reads "Appearing Thru July 7, Sparky The Flying Dog". 

DeYoung explains "To me, Sparky was symbolic of many metaphors for the underdog, no pun intended. For instance, "The Little Train Who Could," "The Tortoise and the Hare," "Dumbo" etc. Those of whom little was expected but much was accomplished.

 So Sparky represents that spark in all of us that refuses to take no for an answer. Here's to all the the Sparky's of the world, the ones who have flown and those about to."

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3) Too Much Time on My Hands - And then Tommy hits us with this one. I literally wore out the needle on my first stereo listening to the intro for this time and time again. It was the second single released from the album and reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on that Top Rock Track Chart thing. Whatever, it kicks ass. Classic.

Sitting on this barstool talking like a damn fool

Got the twelve o'clock news blues

And I've given up hope on the afternoon soaps 

And a bottle of cold brew 

Is it any wonder I'm not crazy? Is it any wonder I'm sane at all? 

Well I'm so tired of losing- I got nothing to do and all day to do it

I go out cruisin' but I've no place to go and all night to get there

Is it any wonder I'm not a criminal? Is it any wonder I'm not in jail? 

Is it any wonder I've got too much time on my hands

It's ticking away with my sanity

I've got too much time on my hands

It's hard to believe such a calamity

I've got too much time on my hands and it's ticking away from me

Too much time on my hands, too much time on my hands

Too much time on my hands 

Well, I'm a jet fuel genius - I can solve the world's problems without even trying 

I have dozens of friends and the fun never ends that is, as long as I'm buying 

Is it any wonder I'm not the president? Is it any wonder I'm null and void? 

Is it any wonder I've got too much time on my hands

It's ticking away with my sanity

I've got too much time on my hands

It's hard to believe such a calamity

I've got too much time on my hands and it's ticking away from me

Too much time on my hands, too much time on my hands

Too much time on my hands

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4) Nothing Ever Goes As Planned - Another DDY song and the third single released from the album. It only reached #54 on the U.S. pop charts. The song is obviously about disappointments and things not going according to the way you planned. I think it has double meaning as to how the theater itself didn't "last forever" even though it was supposedly built that way.

What'cha going to do when the sun goes down tonight?

You'll hit the same old clubs, rap that same old trash that's right

You've got them real silk shirts and them baggy pants

Dago shoes in the colors that match

But the girls are acting bored and you're feeling like you're going to lose

You've got the G.Q. Blues

You get up every morning and you go to work each day

(you go to work, you go to work, you go to work)

Been doing the same damn job for ten long years this May

(you've got to work, you've got to work, you've got to work)

You've been working and saving for your Jamaican dream

Paradise is waiting across the sea

But when your plane lands Montego turns to Monsoon

You've got the Island Blues

'Cause, nothing ever goes as planned

It's a hell of a notion

Even Pharaohs turn to sand like a drop in the ocean

You're so together and you act so civilized

But every time that things go wrong you're still surprised

You've done your duty, you've paid a fortune in dues

Still got those Mother Nature's Blues

I strut around the stage like a little king tonight

They'll scream for every word and every note, that's right

But when the show is over and I'm all alone

Can't reach my baby on the telephone

And everywhere I look Mr. Loneliness is in the news

I've got the Big Star Blues

Boy, nothing ever goes as planned

It's a hell of a notion

Even Pharaohs turn to sand like a drop in the ocean

I'm so together and I act so civilized

But every time that things go wrong I'm still surprised

I've done my duty and paid a fortune in dues

Still got them Mother Nature's Blues

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5) The Best of Times - Dennis really nailed it with this one. It's the looking back and realizing you were in the best times and didn't even know it. I have listened to this song intently preparing for this blog post and it hit me that this was Styx at their pinnacle. This song at this moment in time is the best they would ever be. That everything after, no matter how good, would never be this good.

This was the first single released and hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It continues with the melody that was first used on "A.D. 1928" earlier on the album.

Tonight's the night we'll make history, honey, you and I

And I'll take any risk to tie back the hands of time

And stay with you here tonight

I know you feel these are the worst of times

I do believe it's true

When people lock their doors and hide inside

Rumor has it it's the end of Paradise

But I know, if the world just passed us by

Baby I know, you wouldn't have to cry

The best of times are when I'm alone with you

Some rain some shine, we'll make this a world for two

Our memories of yesterday will last a lifetime

We'll take the best, forget the rest

And someday we'll find these are the best of times

These are the best of times

The headlines read 'these are the worst of times'

I do believe it's true

I feel so helpless like a boat against the tide

I wish the summer winds could bring back Paradise

But I know, if the world turned upside down

Baby, I know you'd always be around

The best of times are when I'm alone with you

Some rain some shine, we'll make this a world for two

The best of times are when I'm alone with you

(When I'm alone with you everything's alright)

Some rain some shine, we'll make this a world for two

(When I'm alone with you, you brighten up the night)

The best of times...

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